Figure 1.-- Snapshots appeared in France at about the same time as in America with the turn-of-the 20th century. The American Kodak Brwonie was the first system availavle to the general piblic (1900) and was soon copied by European companies. The edging, borders, and size can help date the imagee. In this case we know the date--1954. Notice the jagged edges. This was fairly common at mid-century. What is unusual here is that there is no white margin.

Amateur photography was possible in the late-19th century, but taking photographs was complicated and expensive. This significantly reduced the number of people interested in buying cameras and taking family snapshots. Thus photography in the 19th century was mostly studio photography. here were some amateur family snapshots, but not very many. The American Kodak Brownie changed all this (1900). Suddenly interested amateurs could easily take snapshots at at a very modest cost. The Brownie was a instant success not only in America, but other countries as well. Presumably French companies quickly came up with competitors. but we have little information on this. Hopefully our French readers will be able to provide us some historical information on the development of amateur photography in France. We do begin to see French snapshots at about the same time a in America, but not in the same quantities. The size, margin, edging, and other characteristics of the snapshots can help date the images. As in America and other Europen countries, many of these early snapshots were done with postcard backs. One inovation was framing masks.

19th Century Snapshots

Amateur photography was possible in the late-19th century, but taking photographs was complicated and expensive. This significantly reduced the number of people interested in buying cameras and taking family snapshots. Thus photography in the 19th century was mostly studio photography. There were some amateur family snapshots, but not very many. Thus 19th century photography was mostly studio photography. Which means we see people wheb they drssed up for their portraits, but not going about their normal lives.

Amateur Snapshots Appear (1900s)

The American Kodak Brownie changed all this (1900). Suddenly interested amateurs could easily take snapshots at at a very modest cost. The Brownie was a instant success not only in America, but other countries as well. Presumably French companies quickly came up with competitors. but we have little information on this. Hopefully our French readers will be able to provide us some historical information on the development of amateur photography in France. We do begin to see French snapshots at about the same time a in America, but not in the same quantities. An important early format was postcard back prints. There was also more substantial photographic paper so cabinet card mounts were no longer necessary, although we conontinue tpo see cabinenet cars for some time. There was paper done in many different sizes, margins, edging, and other characteristics of the snapshots can help date the images.

Postcards

As in America and other Europen countries, many of early French snapshots were done on stiff paper with postcard backs. France had a very large commercial postcard industry. These were mostly personal photographs taken by families only with postcard backs. Studios also did portraits with postcard backs, but the vast majority were family snapshots. We are not sure when the first of these postcard back snpshots appeared in France, we are guessing about 1904. The earliest actual dated postcard we have archived so far is 1908, but we believe they began a few years earlier. They were very important contributions to the photographic record. One early inovation was framing masks done in various styles. Some postcards were done as portraits, albeit with settings outside the stidio. But we see much more than portraits. We see all kinds of images of children. We see them around home, mostly ouutside home because of the need for outside light. Home of course tells us a great deal about the vhildren's fmily and social position. Of course we not only see theu=ir home, but the children playing and the toys and gmes they played. We se them doing their chores, going to school, enjoying outings to parks and beches, and much more. Not all early amateur snap shots were done as postcard back prints, but many were.

Paper Prints

Created: 9:58 PM 4/18/2012
Last updated: 2:32 PM 12/14/2017